First Take SA

Former World Trade Organisation General Secretary Pascal Lamy will this evening deliver a lecture on the theme "Globalization and the danger of the commons: Can the world achieve shared Prosperity?". The lecture, a partnership between the Mapungubwe Institure for Strategic Reflection and the University of Johannesburg, will take place at the latter's campus at 7pm this evening. Tsepiso Makwetla sp...

Russia's embassy in South Africa has dismissed reports by the Sunday Times newspaper, that Russian president Vladimir Puttin, had a hand in President Jacob Zuma's Cabinet reshuffle. The newspaper at the weekend reported that a Russian delegation reportedly coerced President Zuma into appointing David Mahlobo as the Minister of Energy last week, to ensure that the nuclear deal is realised. In a sta...

The victim of the coffin assault incident, Rethabile Mlotshwa says his offenders should get a harsh sentence for the crime they committed against him. The Middleburg High Court in Mpumalanga found Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen guilty on six of seven charges - including assault, attempted murder, kidnap and intimidation. Mlotshwa has been testifying at the sentencing of the two men who forced...

The National Prosecuting Authority has given President Jacob Zuma until November 30 to make submissions before it decides whether to reinstate the corruption charges against him. The NPA says any further representations by Zuma should relate to issues not previously considered by authorities. The Supreme Court of Appeal last Friday upheld a High Court ruling to reinstate the charges. They were set...

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has expressed his deep sadness at the death of his spokesperson Joe Maila. The minister says the circumstances around his death are unclear at this stage. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

On our Open Mic feature: Tsepiso Makwetla speaks to Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer-songwriter and activist, Angélique Kidjo.

The Presidency has reacted to the spytapes ruling by saying it hopes the NPA will now reconsider President Jacob Zuma's submissions - especially in the light of recent revelations about the integrity of an audit report which underpins the prosecution. The Presidency says in a statement that it had a anticipated the Supreme Court of Appeal's ruling in Bloemfontein. The SCA dismissed with costs the...

The Department of National treasury is in Washington DC, for the 2017 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group's annual meeting. The delegation from treasury plans to use the meetings to attract international investors in a bid to boost the country's economic growth. The IMF has since cut South Africa's economic growth forecast for 2017, to 0-point-7 percent. The fund has cited polit...

The High Court in Pretoria today ruled that anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol was pushed from John Vorster Square. The court ruled that Timol's death while in police custody was not suicide as previously indicated. Timol died in police custody in the 1970's after being tortured by police. Timol's family says the ruling is important to all those who suffered political detention. The NPA agreed to...

Kenya's government has banned protests in main city centres, citing lawlessness during opposition rallies against the electoral commission. The ban comes a day after thousands of opposition supporters held demonstrations in opposition leader Raila Odinga's strongholds demanding reforms ahead of repeat polls later this month. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Uhuru Kenyatta's spokesperson Manoah Esipisu

In commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Reach for Recovery project aims to raise funds to purchase silicone breast prostheses for thousands of disadvantaged South African breast cancer survivors. The Reach for Recovery says thousands of rands are dedicated annually to breast cancer research, but that money does not directly assist survivors. The Power of Pink in conjunction with Rea...

Six police officers have been taken to hospital after they were attacked by a group of men, during a drug raid at a house in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media. A dead body was found during the raid. According to Gauteng Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele says officers were following up on information about a suspected drug den, when...

Time now for our arts and culture feature and today we speak to actress Thuso Mbedu who has recently scored a nomination for "best performance by an actress" in the 2017 International Emmy Awards. The 23-year-old actress has been nominated for her role as young heroine Winnie in Mzansi Magic drama Is'thunzi. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Thuso Mbedu

The KwaZulu-Natal government says it is still assessing the damage caused by storms that caused havoc in the province. The death toll from Tuesday's devastating storm in KwaZulu-Natal has now risen to fourteen. Most of the deaths occurred in areas in and around Durban. Forty-two schools were damaged - including nine high schools. The strong wind and heavy rain also caused damage at many health car...

The Gauteng Health Department Chief Director for Planning, Molefi Mosenogi says he believes the deaths of 118 mentally-ill patients could have been prevented had then Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu been a qualified health professional. Mosenogi was testifying in Life Esidimeni arbitration hearings in Parktown, Johannesburg. Now of the stand os the Director General for the National Department Health, M...

About 54 learners have allegedly been sexually assaulted by a scholar patroller, at AB Xuma Primary School, In Orlando East of Soweto. The matter was reported to the Orlando Police Station and the patroller has since been arrested. The pupils range from the age of 6-12 years. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Steve Mabona, Spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Education

Liberians are currently voting to elect a successor to Africa's first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. A total of 20 presidential candidates are running to succeed Sirleaf. The main contenders in the race to succeed her are Ex-football star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Ibrahim Nyei, a Political Analyst, In Liberia

Heavy rains have caused havoc in KwaZulu-Natal resulting in some major roads being closed for hours. Two people have died in the Nquthu Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal. One person was struck by lightning, while another drowned trying to cross a flooded river. The South African Weather Service has warned that the adverse conditions are likely to continue into tomorrow. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke...

To mark the World Mental Health Day the Crazy for Walking Initiative, has launched a campaign in which they've walked from Pretoria to Cape Town to raise awarenesss and also the de-stigmatisation of mental health. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Crazy For Walking Project CEO, Francois Louw

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications says it will call both the trade union BEMAWU and the so-called SABC 8 to appear before it. This comes after the chairperson and some political parties received two open letters from the union and the group about the state of affairs at the SABC in the absence of a permanent board. The SABC's finances and President Jacob Zuma's delay in appointing...

Humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says medical facilities have become the front line in conflict zones such Syria Afghanistan and South Sudan. The organisation says two years after the bombing of one of their hospitals by the US army in Afghanistan, medical facilities are no longer safe places where civilians can go for aid and lifesaving medical care. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke...

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has withdrawn from the rerun of the presidential elections scheduled for later this month. This after the first vote in August was annulled by the country's Supreme Court. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter In Kenya, Sarah Kimani

The Lady Frere magistrate's court in the Eastern Cape has withdrawn charges against a woman who stabbed three men whom she found raping her daughter a month ago. One young man, who's related to the victim died in the attack while two others sustained injuries. The two suspects are still to appear in court this week. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to our reporter Lubabalo Dada

Unilever has apologised for an advertisement for its Dove soap brand which has been criticised for being racist. The 3-second video clip, posted on Dove's U.S. Facebook page shows a black woman removing a brown T-shirt and revealing a white woman in a white T-shirt underneath. Dove removed the clip and apologised, saying on Twitter that the post had "missed the mark in representing women of colour...

Joburg Emergency Services has dispatched teams to assist residents whose houses have been damaged by trees during heavy rains in the city this afternoon. Spokesperson Nana Radebe says they've been alerted about trees that have fallen on houses in Sandton north of the city. Heavy rains accompanied by hailstorm have caused flooding on the roads and residential areas around Johannesburg in the past h...